REVIEW:

I have to admit that although I am very far behind in my reading, I saw a book the other day and went down the rabbit hole. I thought I would read just a couple of pages and that was my undoing. I was lost in the book and couldn’t put it down. Down Among the Dead Men by Michelle Williams was laugh out loud funny and sad and all the emotions in between. 

Michelle was bored with her job at Britain’s National Health Service working with people who had learning disabilities and learned they had an opening for a Medical Technical Officer in the Mortuary. It caught her interest and she applied for the job. She has worked her way up and is now the Mortuary Manager. This book is about her first year of on the job training and all that comes her way.

One of the things that stands out to me is the care and respect  they had for every one of the deceased people who came through their doors. The consideration they had for the grieving families was above and beyond what you would expect. 

I learned a lot reading this book I didn’t know before and some things I never thought of before. I’ve watched a medical examiner show on television and learned a few things but, maybe because this book takes place in England, they do things a little differently than we do here in the States. I did enjoy some of their sayings that we don’t use here. 

If you want to jump off into something a little different, I highly recommend Michelle Williams book Down Among the Dead Men. Some of the cases will make you laugh, some will make you cry. You will certainly come away with a new understanding of their job and how they learn to adjust to the smells and sights. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

SYNOPSIS:

This deeply original and “entertaining memoir” pulls back the curtain on life at the morgue—introducing a colorful cast of characters you won’t soon forget (Booklist).

“Williams’s reminiscence does more than delight in the creepy and the ghoulish; it breathes life into the mortuary workers themselves.” —The Brooklyn Rail

Michelle Williams is young and attractive, with close family ties, a busy social life . . . and an unusual occupation. When she impulsively applies to be a mortuary technician and is offered the position, she has no idea that her decision to accept will be one of the most momentous of her life. “What I didn’t realize then,” she writes, “was that I was about to start one of the most amazing jobs you can do.” To Williams, life in the mortuary is neither grim nor frightening. She introduces readers to a host of unique characters: pathologists (many eccentric, some utterly crazy), undertakers, and the man from the coroner’s office who sings to her every morning. No two days are alike, and while Williams’s sensitivity to the dead never wavers, her tales from the crypt range from mischievous to downright shocking.

Readers won’t forget the fitness fanatic who is run over while doing nighttime push-ups on the road, the man so large he had to be carted in via refrigerated truck, or the guide dog who led his owner onto railway tracks—and left him there. The indomitable Williams never bats an eye, even as she is confronted—daily—with situations that would leave the rest of us speechless.

REVIEW:

Once again Kiersten Modglin has taken me by surprise with her new book The Hollow. I may have found a new favorite. I have said that with many of her books and then the last few were more in line with what I expected. The Hollow blew me out of the water and then some. This book is not your normal Domestic or Psychological Thriller. It is a thriller in many ways but it is also a romance. 

First off, I loved the convoluted love affairs in this book. There are many. Some go as you might think and others are not so normal and some of them are going on in the background and you don’t even know they are happening. You’ll have to read the book to know what I am talking about because if I tell you, I’ll ruin everything for you and I certainly don’t want to do that!

There are characters I loved. Some I didn’t. Carmen is the main character and one I sympathized with all through the story. Her mom was a sweetheart and her friend Jill was an absolute marvel. Jill’s husband Sam was a minor part that really played a big role. There were their two boys Jack and Dean. This book is really about Carmen. She loses her father and her mother moves them to another state to work at a campground owned and run by Jill and Sam. Kiersten has a knack for character development. We get to know these characters not only by what she tells us but also in how they conduct themselves in the everyday.

If you haven’t guessed, the campground is named The Hollow. It sounds like an idyllic place to grow up and live your life. Things happen as Carmen, Jack and Dean grow into their adult lives and it is interesting how they handle the hurdles life throws at them.

If you’re like me and like a little romance, a little Thriller and a little suspense all rolled up into one great book then get ready to add The Hollow by Kiersten Modglin to that ever growing TBR pile next to your bed! Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

SYNOPSIS:

It was the perfect place to grow up…and the perfect place to die.

After experiencing a personal tragedy, Carmen McKenna finds Hunter’s Hollow—a bustling campground in rural North Carolina—to be her new home and worst nightmare.

Despite the promises of a chosen family and a safe place to grow up, living next door to the Hunters’ two sons comes with its own set of challenges. Jack and Dean introduce Carmen to a world she’s never known—one filled with young love, first heartbreak, and sinister secrets.

When a body is found at Hunter’s Hollow, instantly shattering the tranquil façade that has surrounded the campground, the residents are forced to accept the truth: a killer is among them.

As the police search for answers to no avail, Carmen leaves the campground in hopes of clearing her mind and healing her broken heart.

Now, eleven years later and with the case still unsolved, Carmen returns to face the past and discover the truth about that terrible night. Before she can, a guest is reported missing from the campground and the circumstances are all too similar to the horror Carmen once faced.

They say you can’t go home again, but when buried secrets call to Carmen from Hunter’s Hollow, she’s determined to learn the truth about what happened back then—and what’s happening now—if it’s the last thing she does.

Returning to once again blur the edges between psychological thriller and romantic suspense, million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin brings us a sun-soaked, nostalgic, and completely twisted romantic thriller.

An quote from Kiersten Modglin’s Newsletter:

As you probably know, I’m mainly a thriller writer, but every once in a while (like in the case of The Messes Series, The Better Choice, The Long Route, Hemlock, and now The Hollow) a story comes along that is no less suspenseful, but is a bit different from my normal thriller. Nearly all of my stories, thriller or not, are filled with deeper meaning. Love, hope, justice, family. Even in the darkest moments, those are things that are important to me and I hope they will always shine through in my storytelling. So for this one, it’s a bit of a slow down for me. It’s a story packed with emotions—angsty teenage ones and very real and raw, painful adult ones. It’s loaded with heart—from first loves and first heartbreaks, to what the words home and family actually mean. I hope you’ll take a chance on it and that it will be something unexpected, entertaining, and fun for you. It’s only because of you and your unending support of my stories that I get to play around and try new things—that I truly get to be an artist with my craft—and I can’t tell you what that means to me.

That’s why I love her books so much!

REVIEW:

Songbird’s Second Chance is the third book in the Marsh Point Series by Ashley Farley. She is one of my favorite authors and one of those that I don’t read the Synopsis before jumping in. I know as soon as I see a new book coming out that I am going to read it one way or another. This book required signing up for the launch team and I hopped right to it with a prayer I would be accepted. I’m happy to say I am part of this fun group.

I am sad to say that this is the final book in this series. I always love these series and wish they would go on forever. They don’t so I soak them up while I can. This installment ties up things very nicely. Savannah’s circumstances have changed and she is headed back home to visit her family and to see if this is the place she can start her life anew. Harper has lost her mother and found a couple of things in an envelope that prompts her to visit the Low Country to see if she can find her birth mother.

The fun part of this book is that we get to visit other members of this dysfunctional clan. We get to catch up with them and see what is going on. We meet a few other folks and now that I think of it there are many openings to a new series. I hope there is because I would love little peaks at these characters from time to time to see how they are doing. 

I know that I am easily pulled into a good book and love it when it is part of a series. I never liked reading a series until a couple of years ago. Now, I hate to see my favorite characters in a book leave my life. If you’re like me and love a good series that pulls you in, I suggest you hop right into the Marsh Point Series if you haven’t started it yet. If you have, then you definitely want to read Songbird’s Second Chance by Ashley Farley. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS:

Thirty years ago, Savannah’s child was taken from her shortly after giving birth. The next day, she ran away to the Pacific Northwest where she’s been living ever since. But her circumstances have changed. The tavern where she bartends is closing and her landlord is selling the house she rents. Now seems like the right time to go home to South Carolina, but does she have the courage to face her past?

Upon her mother’s death, while searching for funeral instructions, Harper comes across a sealed envelope containing a worn scrap of yellow flannel, an address in a small town she’s never heard of, and her adoption papers. Everything about her life suddenly makes sense, including why she and her mother were so very different. Determined to find her birth mother, Harper embarks on a journey of discovery to the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Check out the latest book by Jennifer Harris! Those of you who love Psychological and Historical Fiction need to add this to your  “to be read” stack on your nightstand. Keep your eyes open for my review. I promise you that I have left room in my schedule for this promising read!

SYNOPSIS:

‘A literary treasure of masterful storytelling.’ – Midwest Book Review

2015. Stella, a professor and historian, comes to the beautiful and ancient city of Bonn, Germany, for a World Heritage conference. With things at home tearing at the seams, she is determined to pretend all is well. After she is assaulted over a trivial matter by another delegate, Stella descends into a shadowy observer, slowly becoming an obsessed stalker. When she meets the elderly Hildegard on a park bench by the River Rhine she is drawn into her wartime story, little seeing the similarities to her own situation.

1941. Hildegard, new wife to Kurt and student of architecture, surrenders to the inevitable; she needs a job for them to pay their rent. Interviewing for a hotel post, she does not realize her life now is off course, running on a track destined to collide with the sinister Fuhrer himself. She is thrust into the role of maid to Hitler and is no longer able to hide away from reality in her studies. Moving forward is the only option, no matter how dark it gets.

With the story switching between 2015 and 1941, Stella and Hildegard face questions of survival, identity, love and meaning as they juggle moral ambiguities in a world of elusive justice.

Jennifer Harris writes literary fiction inspired by the historic environment—not historical fiction, but fiction set in the contemporary era that responds to the past, remembered either publicly in monuments and memorials, or in subtle, private ways. Her PhD is in Cultural Heritage theory and she has lectured in and researched cultural heritage and museums for many years. She has also run a small museum, and worked as a journalist in Australia and London. 

Jennifer is from Western Australia and has lived also in France and the UK. In 2020 she relocated to Seattle in the spectacular Pacific Northwest of the USA. 

REVIEW:

Tissue Alert! I just finished a new book by Jill Hannah Anderson entitled Closer to Home and scheduled to be released on March 19, 2024. I’m pretty sure I have read all of her books. I’ve enjoyed every one of them and I think this is the best book to date that she has penned. I am hoping this is the beginning of a series. I don’t know that but, my fingers and toes are crossed.

There are two things that really drew me into this book. The first is that it takes place in a small town and not just one but two small towns. You know how much I love books that are about small towns. The second thing is that it took place in the 70’s. That’s my time! I graduated and was newly married in the 70’s. Those were good times. Old days!

This book is about Joleigh Moore who is hiding out after witnessing the murder of her boyfriend until the culprits are caught. She winds up in a small town where she thrives. So many things happened to Joleigh and I was caught up in her life. She is the kind of person you can relate to and one who cares for others. She makes a lot of friends in town in a short time and ultimately makes life changes for many.

I found myself totally engrossed in the story line and couldn’t put the book down. I have to admit it is one of the first times I’ve told my husband to shush because my reading time was being interrupted. He kindly buried himself in his own book. Thank goodness!

I read most of the day between feeding myself, my husband and our furbabies.

I love a book that has a nice mix of suspense, romance, friendship and everyday life. I seem to enjoy that better than if it is all wrapped around a murder for example. I like to mix the genres a little. It makes a book more interesting in my opinion. The characters become real and more well rounded. 

If any of this sounds interesting to you, Jill Hannah Anderson’s book Closer to Home is up for pre-order now. You won’t be sorry. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

SYNOPSIS:

Joleigh Moore lives an almost-reclusive life on her small farm in Missouri. But when she witnesses the murder of her boyfriend, Mack, she worries the assailants will come after her next.

Planning to hide out until Mack’s killers are caught, Joleigh stows away in a neighbor’s station wagon and lands in a small Minnesota town. Later, she discovers a large amount of cash in her journal and realizes Mack must have hidden his drug money there. Joleigh now has what the men were willing to kill for.

Joleigh takes a summer job and moves into an old run-down cabin in the woods. As she gets to know the townspeople and becomes more and more involved with them, the place she once considered temporary could be her chance for a new beginning. But before Joleigh can have a future, she’ll be forced to deal with her past.

REVIEW:

New author! New book! New series! I’m so excited to tell y’all that I just finished the first book in a brand new series by Kellie Coates Gilbert. I was offered the chance to read this book and I jumped on it. I have been following Ms. Gilbert for a few years now and I have 7 books and a couple anthologies of hers in my library. I have been swamped with reviews since I retired and just never took the time out to read one of them until this opportunity came about. I’m so glad to have read this book and I’ll tell you why.

This book grabbed my attention and held onto it until the very last page. This book and series is about the friendship of women. The first book is about Charlie Grace and her three female friends Reva, Lila and Capri. They have been friends forever and graduated together. They have remained a group of four who pull together for each other and are there through the good and bad times in their lives. They meet with each other weekly and are a chosen family.

In the beginning of this book we meet Charlie Grace and she is about to open Teton Trails Guest Ranch. This is an added addition to the original working ranch. I loved seeing her plans come together and how she and her aunt worked together to make their opening a success. You get to meet some of the guests they had and one very important one that stirs some opinions in the town.

Charlie Grace has a lot going on and her women friends are a constant support for her. I love the characters in this book and how well developed they are. The author made me want to be friends with these ladies. Although I know it can be hard to be part of a longtime group, I still longed to be a part of them. We all know how much camaraderie and support can mean when you are going through the highs and lows of everyday life.

This story flowed and I could see some problems down the road. I liked how they were handled. I also came to care for all of the women and am happy to hear the second book is going to feature one of the women whose time I think has come. I can’t wait to see what is in her future. 

If you like a good wholesome story. A story that draws you in and holds you hostage until you finish the last page, then Kellie Coates Gilbert’s Where We Belong is a must for your “to be read” stack. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to leave a review for the authors you read! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

SYNOPSIS:

A powerful story of healing, new beginnings, and friendships that last a lifetime…

Charlie Grace Rivers, a gutsy divorced mother, works hard at juggling life in the small town of Thunder Mountain, Wyoming, even when her cantankerous and ailing father balks at every decision she makes regarding Teton Trails Guest Ranch. Worse, he hires her philandering ex-husband.

At her wit’s end, she runs to her lifetime girlfriends for solace and counsel, but none of their advice compares to the wisdom of a new guy in town who is staying at Teton Trails…a good-looking producer from a popular television show being filmed in the wilds of Wyoming, a man who might be the key to the happiness she’s long been missing.

Charlie Grace bravely chooses to open her heart until her newfound happiness is put to the test, and she learns that her new relationship could put her at odds with much of the town—including her best friends—who worry Nick Thatcher’s television show will draw unwanted attention to their secluded mountain paradise.

Is the promise of love worth the upheaval it may bring, or is it merely a fleeting dream destined to vanish with Nick’s inevitable departure?

Join Charlie Grace on her heartwarming journey of courage, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of happiness in a tale that will resonate with every woman who has ever dared to follow her heart. Perfect for fans of Robyn Carr and Sherryl Woods.

REVIEW:

Spring has sprung and Summer is on the way and I have found the perfect beach read for you my friends! Denise Hunter is releasing a new novel titled Love, Unscripted. The release date is March 12th and I totally enjoyed this story when I wasn’t too sure I would. I had to read it because I have enjoyed everything I’ve read that Denise Hunter has written. 

Let me explain. I think my main hang up before diving into this book was that it revolved around the filming of a Hollywood movie. I do love a good movie and will binge watch them but at my age I’m not particularly into keeping up with the lives of all the stars. This story did not disappoint. It was Hollywood filming in a small town. You know how I love small towns so this turned out to be right in my wheelhouse.

The main character is a debut author. Sound familiar? I love to promote new authors. The author’s name was Chloe Anderson and she was fresh from a breakup and wrote a novel about the perfect boyfriend. It was a bestseller and climbed the charts. Her best friend Meghan owns the local independent bookstore. This just keeps getting better. Her book is picked up for a new movie. The star of the movie is Liam Hamilton. This is where the fun begins!

This book is not all fluff. It deals with some neglect, alcoholism, abandonment, cheating and several other things that disrupt our lives and we carry with us for a long time. Some of those things shadow our lives until sometimes we are forced to deal with the consequences. 

The character development was superb. It had to be or the book would have flopped. I immediately was involved in the lives of these characters and what they were thinking and dealing with. I couldn’t put this book down! Although the author describes this book as a beach read, it is so much more than that.

If you love a book that gives you something to think about, people to care about and settings that draw you in, then Love, Unscripted needs to be high on your to be read list. I highly recommend this novel. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Denise Hunter. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS:

The perfect boyfriend only exists on paper…doesn’t he?

Fresh off the heels of a bad breakup, Chloe Anderson poured her heart into penning the perfect boyfriend—and the result was an off-the-charts debut beach read that resonated with women worldwide. Now, Chloe’s scripted hero is headed for Hollywood, with her book destined to become a major motion picture.

When Chloe gets wind that silver screen bad boy Liam Hamilton has been cast as the ideal-in-every-way hero of her novel, she’s horrified by the film director’s choice. How could a player like Liam possibly do Chloe’s perfect hero justice? Unafraid to speak her mind, Chloe lets her executive producer know she’s one hundred percent opposed to the casting. And oops—the call is on speakerphone, where the annoyingly attractive Hollywood star hears Chloe’s unbridled outrage firsthand.

With Liam’s reputation already on the rocks, his agent concocts a PR plan to upgrade Liam’s image while putting the story—and the film—in the spotlight. The catch? During the movie’s filming in Chloe’s cute hometown of Stillwater, North Carolina, Chloe and Liam will fake a wholesome, committed relationship. Both stand to gain something from the arrangement. Liam’s fans will see him in a new light, while Chloe can boost her struggling social media following and further her writing career. What could possibly go wrong?

As author and actor navigate the waters of the PR relationship, they’re unpre­pared when their professional agreement turns into an actual friendship. And when serious sparks start to fly—well, that’s an unread chapter for both of them.

Charming contemporary romanceStand-alone novelBook length: approximately 83,000 words. Includes discussion questions for book clubs

REVIEW:

Oh my goodness! I have been in a reading slump and Soraya Lane just reminded me why I love to read. Her new book The Sapphire Daughter is being released on March 8th and is the fourth book in The Lost Daughters Series that she is writing. This is the third one that I have read. I am still terribly far behind and need to go back and read The Italian Daughter. All of these books are fabulous and they are the books that make you have a satisfied sigh when you close the cover.

All of the books take place in two different time periods. The backstory goes back to at least the 50’s and I think some of them are earlier and some later. There was a home for unwed mothers called Hope’s House. It was run by a woman named Hope. All of the stories in this series are about the children that were born at Hope’s House. I think that Hope was an outstanding woman of her time. One of those people we would all love to have in our lives. The characters that I have come to know and love in these books are all people that draw you into the story. Soraya Lane has a true knack of character development. I have not read one book by her that I didn’t like. She is the reason I love Historical Fiction so well.

Speaking of Historical Fiction, these books fall under 20th Century Historical Fiction. That is right up my alley! I get a little romance, some history and there is a mystery also in these books that the genre doesn’t mention. Of course, I love following the story and seeing how the mystery unfolds and is solved. I just couldn’t ask for anything more in a great book and maybe that is why I love this series so much. I couldn’t wait to sit down and write to you about this book.

If you are like me, and love all history, mystery and romance, then this series is a definite must for your reading pleasure. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS:

Lake Geneva, 1951: Delphine looked up at Florian, her fingers grazing his cheek as she pressed her mouth to his, the sapphire tiara sparkling beside them. “Yes,” she whispered against his lips. “I will marry you. If you can find a way, then I promise you. I will marry you.”

London, present day. Georgia holds the rare pink sapphire in her hands, watching it glitter in the morning light. It was left for her at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers whose babies were adopted. But how is it connected to the secrets of her family’s complicated history?

Georgia tries to forget about the sapphire, her heart too bruised by past hurts. But when she discovers the gemstone was part of a priceless tiara owned by the Italian royal family, she is drawn in by the mystery surrounding it. Her only way of finding answers is to travel to Lake Geneva to meet with the man who inherited the stunning tiara from his grandfather.

When she arrives at the breathtaking lakeside city, handsome Luca tells her he’s been searching for the missing stone for years and is eager to piece together how it arrived at Hope’s House. As they spend sun-drenched days together, Georgia and Luca grow closer and uncover the passionate, forbidden love story of Delphine and Florian, whose tragic romance forced Delphine to make a heartbreaking decision with devastating consequences…

As Georgia comes to terms with the decades-old secret, will it shatter everything she thought she knew about herself? Or will Delphine’s courage inspire her to open up her own heart and build a new life with Luca?

A completely gripping and escapist read about family mysteries and true love that lasts a lifetime, that will leave you spellbound. The perfect read for fans of Lucinda Riley, Victoria Hislop and Santa Montefiore.

This novel can be enjoyed as a standalone.

REVIEWS: I read all of these and reviewed them when they originally were published. They are being released in a boxed set and I’m posting these reviews together for your convenience. I know you’ll want to binge read them! They are available for pre-order today.

THE SECRET THEY KEPT: WOW! J.S. Ellis knocked it out of the park with The Secrets They Kept. It is my favorite book of hers so far. I totally enjoyed this story and happily went along with the ride. I didn’t know where this book was headed. There were a few characters throughout the book that raised my suspicions but, I couldn’t put a solid finger on any of them.

Emily moves into her first house and finds out the woman of the couple who used to live there came up missing. Emily’s boyfriend goes missing and the Jones’ across the street had a son that went missing too. That is a lot in between two houses! Who is involved? It has to be someone close by. Right or maybe not. You’ll have to read this on your own too see if you can figure out who the culprit is.

If you love a good mystery, this is your book. At first, it didn’t seem like a mystery but, I loved the characters and the story was engaging. The mystery built throughout the story. It kind of sneaks up on you. I enjoyed every minute of this book. I wouldn’t mind another story about Emily in a new home with a new mystery. Maybe a new man? Probably just my wishful thinking. I never want a good book to end.

SECRETS AND LIES: Secrets and Lies by J.S. Ellis is the second book of The Secret They Kept series with The Secret The Kept being the title of the first book. I can’t help but think there is going to be at least one more book in this series. I felt like Secrets and Lies left me with a lot of unanswered questions. The first book brought overwhelming success hence book two and here’s hoping for a book three!

I really think you should read The Secret They Kept before you read Secrets and Lies. You won’t be sorry. I think you can read book two as a stand alone but, the background and introduction to the characters in book one will lend more richness to the story. I think you would lose a lot if you read book two first and then go back to book one. So, enhance your reading experience and read these books in order.

The characters in these books are a little quirky. They may not be the kind of people in your group of friends but, their beauty and open lives will pull you in. Emily is the main character and is a lot like some of us. I don’t think she sees herself as beautiful and doesn’t always go the extra mile to take care of herself and her home. She was not always like this but, the things that happen in the first book and now the second one have changed who she is as a person. She is drawn to Lucien who is a stunningly beautiful man. Nobody compares. His coloring, clothes and the way he carries himself make him a stand out in any crowd. Emily is also interested in a detective that is prominent in the story. You have to read these books to understand how all of this fits. It’s quite interesting.

I have become a fan of J.S. Ellis. She writes great Psychological Suspense. I rarely know what is going to happen. She weaves such a good story and has characters that just draw you in that you really don’t realize what you are reading. You think you are reading a normal fiction book until the first twist comes your way. Then you just jump right in and fly along because you can’t wait to see what happens.

If you love Suspense, Psychological Suspense, murders that have gone unsolved, A love story or two or three along the way, domestic fiction, you name it, you’ll love this new series by J.S. Ellis.

THE SECRET WE KEEP: The Secrets We Keep by J.S. Ellis is book three of a trilogy. Book one is The Secret They Kept and book two is Secrets and Lies. I’ve enjoyed all the books that I have read by this author. She always keeps me interested in her stories.

The characters in this series start out as somewhat normal. As normal as most of us are. Emily is the main character and I really liked her a lot. She gets involved with a circle of friends that don’t really seem to be her type. They are all interesting and from my point of view are a little far out. They are models and photographers. Emily is a freelance graphic artist and works from home. It leaves her available at odd hours and she gets entangled with these odd friends. Lucien is the beautiful boy across the street. I say boy because he is younger than Emily. There is an attraction that I don’t think Emily even understands. I will say that the is a full cast of characters and some of them I really liked. As with most books, I think you’ll find some you don’t.

You really want to read all three books. I think if you pick up book two or three, you will have a hard time figuring out what is going on. I remember having a short time of putting it all together with book two. I did with this book also. I had to remember who everyone was and how they tie together. I think that now all three books are released it would be a good idea to acquire them all and binge read them. Keeps everything fresh. I found it a little hard to remember all the details at the beginning and it wasn’t an easy entrance into each book. I was able to work it all out, it just took me a bit.

Overall, if you like quirky characters, a good mystery and a mystery that actually changes over time, I think you will like these books. They are geared to a little younger reader than me but, it doesn’t throw us older folks out of the park either. There is something for everyone! Until next time…Happy Reading!

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I received a complimentary copies of all three books from the author. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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SYNOPSIS:

Emily Clarke thought her dreams were coming true. Her business was thriving and she was moving into a beautiful new house. Yet this dream quickly morphed into a nightmare.

Rocks being thrown at her windows.
Haunting messages written on glass.
Items mysteriously disappearing.

Emily’s nerves are on edge, which is only made worse by the man across the street constantly screaming at his wife. By befriending their son, Lucien, she learns a dark truth about the street she now calls home. Lucien has a brother who went missing ten years ago, as did the last occupant of Emily’s house.

Emily wants to believe these ominous events are past history until her ex-boyfriend vanishes without a trace. Now, she’s convinced she is a pawn in someone’s twisted game.

Can she uncover who is behind these disappearances before becoming their next victim?